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Vespas and estate living make Tuscany trip hard to forget

Preparing for the ride on Italy’s streets.

Photograph by: Michelle Magnon
, Freelance

It all started with a crash.

In early May, I was at Castello di Casole, a gorgeous, hilly estate in Tuscany, Italy, with a group of journalists. On our first full day at the property, we ventured to the estate’s main building to pick up our rented Vespas. The plan: to take our scooters up to Montefioralle Castle, a picturesque village nearby. My mission: to not kill myself on my first Vespa ride.

I’ll save you the drama: I did not kill myself, but I lasted only 10 seconds. After gunning the Vespa and zipping out of the little shed where it was housed — which was on gravel, I might add — I slammed on the brakes, effectively crashing my Vespa into the rocks while simultaneously jumping off the bike. I was bruised, the scooter was dented. My Vespa-driving dreams were dashed.

After my crash — which earned me the nickname “Crash Mayhem” for the duration of the trip — the poor scooter was relegated to the shed. My three-day Vespa rental had cost me $20 euro per second. Sunk cost, I thought; better than a busted head. And so I found myself on the back of photographer Paul Alexander’s bike for our ride through the hills.

I’m happy to report that Tuscany — from any which way you ride the scooter — is spectacular, especially when you’re staying at a stunning private Exclusive Resorts residence (exclusiveresorts.com). Exclusive, a company that offers its roughly 3,500 members access to more than 70 luxurious homes around the world, had invited us to experience Italy their way, which is to say: pampered. I was eager to see what it’s like to stay not in a hotel, but in a large private home with an infinity pool, its own pizza “forno” oven and an on-site concierge — for obvious reasons, but also because roughly half of Exclusive’s 150 Canadian members are from Calgary. They are an elite bunch, as the destination club membership is not for everyone.

In May, Exclusive Resorts launched a new membership package tailored to Canadians; members pay a one-time fee of $215,000, plus annual dues of approximately $22,000, for 20 days of travel that include Canadian Thanksgiving and spring break. When I asked Dan Zuch, senior vice-president with Exclusive, why so many Calgarians joined the club — years before the new package was even offered — he cited a few reasons: early adopters spread the word through the tight-knit, not to mention wealthy, city; Calgary is cold “nine months out of the year” (no argument here) and people like to escape to warmer climes; and, in the winter, the city’s ski-lovers venture to Exclusive’s ski properties, such as Vail, Colo., and Whistler, B.C. “Our Canadian members are a bit more adventurous, in terms of desiring more custom-curated adventure, more exotic destinations related to exploring, mountains and nature,” he said.

Which brings us back to Tuscany and our group’s adventures. Home base was our stunning four-bedroom home — just one of many private residences on the estate. Upon arrival, our kitchen was stocked with wine, coffee and some of our favourite foods. Prior to the trip, I had mentioned my allergy to some nuts to the Exclusive ambassador who called me to discuss my likes and dislikes — this is the standard service for all members; ambassadors cover everything from trip details to custom-planned adventures — but said I was able to eat peanut butter, not wanting to cause a fuss. In the cupboard of our large, gorgeous kitchen: my own jar of peanut butter, plus food products labelled as nut-free or not. The incredible service continued throughout the week, with lovely Italian women coming over in the evenings to show us how to make ravioli, pizza and more.

Our days were spent poolside or taking day trips to nearby cities, such as Siena and Florence. Coming home every night to our very own home in the hills was like coming home to heaven. The fact that we were travelling by van — Vespas parked safely in shed — made it all the better for this weary scooter traveller.

More Luxury Travel News

Mr. & Mrs. Smith, a long-standing hotel-booking website with a curated selection of luxurious boutique hotels around the world, recently launched in Canada. For 10 years, James Lohan and Tamara Heber-Percy — the couple behind the brand (not the Smiths, funnily enough) — have been anonymously reviewing unique hotels and curating them for a clientele that values trendy, upscale spots to rest their heads. Now, thanks to the recent launch, Canadians on the hunt for cool hotels will also be able to book in Canadian prices.

As someone who prefers boutique hotels, I was thrilled to stay at two Mr. & Mrs. Smith locales in Rome: Hotel Babuino 181 and Palazzo Manfredi. The first was a contemporary, clean and cool spot just off of Via del Corso, the bustling street known for great shops and restaurants. The second was an intimate 15th-century palazzo with just 15 rooms and a restaurant with the most epic view in Rome: the Colosseum. The Palazzo staff treated me like gold, having left chilled champagne and snacks in my room, given me tips on running routes and made me dinner reservations at incredible eateries off the frequented tourist paths. The experience taught me two things: Curated travel is the way to go; and Lohan and Heber-Percy have a sweet gig.

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